Hard rock, happiness and health!

Posted on 17/12/2020 by pnille61

Thundermother and AC/DC are frequently mentioned in the same sentence, not only by us, but also in various music media. Thundermother seems to be happy with the comparison to AC/DC, but has managed to use the inspiration to create their own sound. Thundermother’s release Heat Wave (AFM Records) on 31 July 2020 came storming in, was welcomed with great reviews and made us old AC/DC fans happy, i.e. someone takes pride in carrying the tradition into the future. Only a few months later rumors about a new AC/DC album started to get around. Then marketing signs stating ‘PWR UP’ started to show up all over the Globe. 13 Nov. 2020 AC/DC released its 17th studio album the phenomenal Power Up (Columbia, Sony Music). In a year of global hardship, we salute these two bands, which spread excellent hard rock, happiness and health.

To note is that Thundermother performs live tonight (Thursday, 18 Dec. 2020) in Swedish TV show, Musikhjälpen (Music Aid) to help collect money in the name of ‘no-one shall be left without health care, your music saves lives’. Take the opportunity to contribute, wish music or participate in Thundermother’s own collection and competition.

Speaking of competition, the metalsouth ‘A C D C P W R U P’ still life picture, recently posted, was one of three AC/DC fan actions nationally (via Facebook) awarded by Sony Music Sweden. Happily received the prize was the Power Up album (red vinyl) and a really cool AC/DC PWR UP hat. Thanks to Sony Music Sweden for the prize, which is heavily appreciated.

Please, note that after our latest post on the Power Up Album it has received excellent and more correct reviews like in Rock’n’Roll Magazine, Issue #1/2021, page 41, 4 of 5 and Sweden Rock Magazine, issue #11/2020, page 78, 8 of 10.

Finally, let us wish Thundermother good luck tonight and forward hopes of more future releases from two happiness spreading bands.

**Thundermother,** **KB, Malmö, 17 March, 2018**.

**AC/DC,** Friends Arena, Solna, 19 July, 2015.

The Albums Of The Year!

Posted on 02/01/2016 by pnille61

A few days into the new year 2016 it feels necessary to put in a few words on the passed fantastic year 2015 of heavy metal and hard rock stemming from the metalsouth region. Numerous good albums have been released and highly effectful gigs are still fresh in memory.

Albums we would like to give honorable mentions to are 3 albums related to the metalsouth region, 1 album related to the northern part of Sweden and 2 US origin albums. Please, find the listing below first and foremost as highly recommended listenings and not as a serious attempt to make technical-or classifying analysis. It’s all about the feelings, but one album still, we feel, with a little stronger sense!!

The Sword, High Country, US (Razor & Tie Recordings LLC, 2015).

The Sword has become us very warm at heart since the gig at KB, Malmö, together with Black Temple. The albums still grows by each listening.

Clutch, Psychic Warfare, US (Weathermaker Music LLC, 2015).

The album is highly listed in most Swedish Metal press and even the highest in some. The only pain is connected to our missing out of their tour passing by Copenhagen and Gothenburg. We hope for another chance towards the summer.

Refused, Freedom, SE (Epitaph Europe, 2015).

Swedish hardcore from Umeå. The album is an absolute must and the variation from song to song creates curiosity and the moment of surprises are many. A top album, which makes us book their coming gig at KB, Malmö, on Feb.26, 2016.

Hatesphere, New Hell, DK (Massacre-records, 2015).

A really close an great encounter when supporting Soilwork at KB, Malmö. The album gives us joy and a wish to go back in the bands career. A great live band with many humorous connections to the audience.

Soilwork, The Ride Majestic, SE (Nuclear Blast Records, 2015). Fantastic and goes without saying another masterpiece from band with roots in Helsingborg, Glumslöv and Landskrona (can it be more metalsouth…?). Earlier mentioned the great gig at KB, Malmö, together with T.A.N.K. (FR) and Hatespere (DK).

Black Temple, It All Ends, SE (Razzia Notes, Century Media, 2015).

Last, but not least in our listing comes this phenomenal first album under the Black Temple name. The band has successfully toured heavily with The Sword and Swedish metal giants In Flames. Both events are covered at this blog.

We have during 2015 seen great concerts like AC DC at Friends arena, The Sword, Soilwork, Black Temple, Hatesphere and T.A.N.K. at KB Malmö. Danko Jones was angry at The Tivoli, Helsingborg, for the closing down of the club. Devil You Know, Papa Roach and Five Finger Death Punch played at the Tap 1 in Copenhagen, the same evening as the Snow Ball Xmas Beer introduction.

‘It’s all about the feelings’ and strong feelings we have from this year, but we would like to put forward Black Temple as the ‘hardest working band of 2015’, with its roots in this region and with the ‘best album of the year’, ‘It All Ends’. By this we would like to see the band at more occasions and at festivals coming up during 2016. We take the opportunity to congratulate Black Temple of taking part at the ‘MetalTown 2016 Indoors festival’ on March 12, 2016, at Trädgår’n in Gothenburg!! 2016 has all the great possibilities to be a great heavy metal year!!

Mission complete!

Posted on 02/08/2015 by pnille61

The moment at Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden, July 19, 2015, will never be forgotten. The arena was full to the limit and counted for 53.686 people. The Swedish National Arena, is mainly used for football home game matches for the local AIK and the National Team. After Zlatans’s four goals vs. England on November 15, 2012, many wanted to rename it to ‘The Zlatan Arena’. The noticable difference between a concert event and a football match is that all cheer for the same team. This time Friends hosted AC/DC and all 53.686 pointed their energy in the same direction…towards the stage. No conflict, no violence…pure positive energy and happiness.

Paris (Bercy) February 25, 2009, Gothenburg (Ullevi) June 21, 2009, Stockholm (Stadion) June 3, 2010, were 3 fantastic events vistited on the Black Ice Tour. The band delivered fantastic concerts to its fans and got fantastic reviews with the highest scores. ‘The best live band in the world!!’ could be read in main newspapers.

For the Rock or Bust Tour Malcolm Young and Phil Rudd are replaced with Stevie Young and Chris Slade. The moment of the evening is magic! The mission of having also our daughter to see the band live was achieved and all family members are now with the right musical schooling!!

Some reviews in Swedish papers were disappointing to read giving the band medium scores. The main arguments being that singing and tightness not being what it once was. We, on the contrary, would like to give Brian Johnson a particular thank you, who at 67 still is touring, singing a terribly tough style and still taking the high notes. The excellent performances of Angus Young, Chris Slade, Stevie Young and Brian Johnson all lead to that 53.686 people had a AC/DC party never to be forgotten.

Upcoming events creates happiness!!

Posted on 16/07/2015 by pnille61

Metalsouth is proud to list a couple of upcoming events, which will be covered.

AC/DC at the Friends Arena in Solna/Stockholm on Sunday July 19, 2015.

AC/DC established in 1973 the year when it all started. After the latest Black Ice Tour in 2009/10 I saw them three times. In Paris, in Gothenburg and in Stockholm. This time the intention is to also give our daughter the right schooling. The two sons had a heart thrilling experience together with my sister, brother, myself and 54.000 more in Gothenburg in June 2009. Now even my wife is forced to take the basic course in the right kind of music. Rock or Bust!!

Soilwork release of a new album ‘The Ride Majestic’ (Nuclear Blast Records) on August 28, 2015.

Black Temple release of a new album ‘It All Ends (Razzia Notes Scandinavia Century Media Europe) on August 28, 2015. Also being support to The Sword at KB, Malmö, on the same day.

Danko Jones and band plays at the Tivoli, Helsingborg, on October 16, 2015.

Black Temple supports Melodic Death Metal Giants In Flames from Gothenburg at KB, Malmö, on October 23, 2015. The support will be on all Scandinavian dates of the In Flames Tour! Magic!! We’re sure it will not end by this…the sky’s now the limit, guys!!

Soilwork plays at KB, Malmö, and kicks off the new tour on November 27, 2015.

The listed events are all covered by metalsouth in presence and listening, which will mean a few more and hopefully interesting posts.

…there is also a rumour that Entombed A.D. will play in Gothenburg and Stockholm in January 2016…

A hectic, but very thrillling fall of 2015 followed by a great start of 2016.

Four Albums of a Christmas Eve!

Posted on 28/12/2014 by pnille61

Christmas with all its expectations, hopes and stress. The holiday which should give a great possibility for harmony and energy intake very often ends up in family drama and stress. What could be a better prevention action than to order some of the recently released albums and in my case read about, but not yet listened to. Since, I cannot longer go into a record store to buy new releases (still, used cd’s and vinyls are doing pretty well in Sweden in the old format of a record store managed by a very knowledgeable person), my new procedure of ordering records on the internet works very well. The delivery time is normally 1-3 days and the waiting time brings back the feeling of waiting for the weekly Spiderman magazine I received as a small boy. My order this time was placed a week before Christmas and the pack landed the day before Christmas Eve. The opportunity was then given to wrap the cd’s, put a sticker on with my name with Santa as the giver and to be placed under the Christmas tree just in time for Christmas Eve. At least one Christmas gift had now been secured for the metalhead, the ousider of the family.

I can therefore only promote http://www.ginza.se as a great on line purchase site with a great range of old and new music in all categories. Also their long list of films is impressive. With a very surprised face I opened up the Christmas gift with the following titles:

AC DC, Rock or Bust (Colombia Music, Sony Music, 2014):

The band has a special place in my heart. It was formed in 1973 when I was 12 years old. I picked them up towards the end of the 70’s and has followed them closely ever since. My three time live encounter (Paris, Gothenburg, Stockholm) with the band during their 2009-2010 Black Ice Tour created memories for life. After a first listening of the Rock or Bust album my happy feeling flows in the direction of the Friends arena July 19, 2015. When my whole family and my brother will be happy concert goers among 50.000 more! The album has great potential with its new set up (Stevie Young replaces Malcolm ‘the great’!) and deserves a higher score than the 3 out of 5 as I have seen in most reviews.

Entombed A D, Back To The Front (Century Media Records Ltd, 2014):

Another band with a new set up. The band was formed this year after the former Entombed broke up right in the middle of a very press covered new record production. Alex Hellid, guitarist and a member from the start left the band and concerns have been risen if the sound also would leave with him. After a first listening through at the gym yesterday I must say I have severe body ache and a lust of listening to it again today. The sound is still there and this Death ‘n’ roll still with a cruel L-G Petrov on song makes it listenable for a broader group.

Black Stone Cherry, Magic Mountain (Roadrunner Records, 2014):

When L-G Petrov’s cruel voice has pounded all of my ghosts away Black Stone Cherry’s southern blues oriented riff based rock fits fine. Even lyrics are possible to follow and in some cases to sing-a-long. I like this alot and their live performance at the Store Vega in Copenhagen together with Alter Bridge November 10, 2011, is among the best I’ve seen and heard.

Slipknot, .5: The Gray Chapter (Roadrunner Records, 2014):

My first encounter with the band was at the Metaltown festival in Gothenburg in 2010 visted together with our oldest son. He and his friends had a period end of the 90’s when Slipknot coloured their musical life. This was the introduction for me into the genre of ‘nu-metal’ with the more intense listening to bands like Slipnot and Korn. A review will here come later. Requires some focus and a few times more of listening than normal. The first few tracks now in the background makes me think about trying to get tickets to their concert in Stockholm in February!!

In conclusion, of this post, there will be more concrete impressions from these albums later. The above written may give the impression of a depressed Christmas, still in retrospect it has been good and our house is full of our dearest children, now adults and in great relations. The music here described is not my highest priority, but only a sweet addition to what is the most important in life – FAMILY!

metalsouth

Metalsouth in Helsingborg, Sweden.

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